I was going for using the same tamp pressure and grind for the single and double, and the VSTs were the closest I got to that working. Since my 58mm is a calibrated tamp and the 40mm was not it's hard to say I was doing it perfectly the same, but I'd say it can be done.

Another option for a smaller tamp is just getting a different tamp bottom to screw onto the handle. For a home user that's not a big deal.

As for the pucks- always soggy. 15gm in a VST 15 was soggy, and 7gm in the 7 also soggy. That's just my experience. So there was mess involved that some may consider a deal breaker. You might be able to up dose the 15 (it is sold as a 14-16g) and get rid of that, I dunno.

I was going for using the same tamp pressure and grind for the single and double, and the VSTs were the closest I got to that working. Since my 58mm is a calibrated tamp and the 40mm was not it's hard to say I was doing it perfectly the same, but I'd say it can be done.

Very close, I wouldn't say exact tamp pressure but if you get a good grind for one it'll most likely be workable for the other. The 7g is a tricky little basket, I used a plastic collar to guide the coffee into the center which really helped. I made the collar from a scoop that came with one of my Hario cone filter holders, by cutting it making a funnel. That was a while ago, but my memory is that the grind was workable between the 15 and 7 at the time.

Very close, I wouldn't say exact tamp pressure but if you get a good grind for one it'll most likely be workable for the other. The 7g is a tricky little basket, I used a plastic collar to guide the coffee into the center which really helped. I made the collar from a scoop that came with one of my Hario cone filter holders, by cutting it making a funnel. That was a while ago, but my memory is that the grind was workable between the 15 and 7 at the time.

This near-perfect temperature control that the BDB gives is almost boring in a sense, it's sooo good. I had to scratch the itch for something a little more manual... So I got a La Pavoni Europiccola, MY2000, with pressurestat and single 1000W power switch, but with a pre-millennium group. The BDB is in the main home, and the Pavoni is in the lake house/crash pad, where I stay for work trips. It has ZERO temperature control, but great predictability as long as you stick to a set routine. Any more than two or three consecutive shots and it's too hot. Of the three, the first is a little cool, the second is usually perfect, and the third is a little hot, but still good. Then shut it down, walk away and let it cool. Period. Not so, with the awesome BDB. Truth be told, I usually only do one shot with the Pavoni. The ability to "trim" the pressure with the manual lever is very very nice... rudimentary pressure profiling, with easy controllability. It's a big step up in the cup, from the SBDU machines I replaced it with, and a nice balance to the always perfect, super easy, no-brainer BDB.

Hey, four out of my five (mostly old beaters) cars are manuals, but even the nice one, a powerful german luxury sport sedan is a six-speed manual.

I recently started experiencing a drip from the hot water spigot on my BDB. I called up Breville and, without hesitation, they told me they would send out another machine. Today it arrived, and I see in the manual insert a reference to "6 month certified remanufactured limited product warranty." Should I be concerned that this machine is remanufactured? Any experience of what that means in Breville-land? Is this standard operating procedure for replacement under the warranty? Thanks.

I agree. I would only ask whether you had a /B model before, and whether this rebuilt machine is a /B model. As long as you received apples and apples, that should be OK. Also, if they "upgraded" you to a /B model, that is certainly OK.

I also had one warranty issue about 8 months ago and have been totally satisfied with the Breville solution. I only wish Lexus had 1/2 the business integrity of Breville.

I agree. I would only ask whether you had a /B model before, and whether this rebuilt machine is a /B model. As long as you received apples and apples, that should be OK. Also, if they "upgraded" you to a /B model, that is certainly OK.

Re refurbs, in general, i don't have a single problem with FACTORY refurbs, IOW refurbs sold and backed by the manufacturer. If i were to buy another vario, i would buy a refurb (i was a launch customer back in 2009, and they didn't have refurbs when i bought mine), from baratza. same with breville... if the ever offer factory refurbs for general sale themselves.

B747VET Said:

... and have been totally satisfied with the Breville solution. I only wish Lexus had 1/2 the business integrity of Breville.

not surprising breville is bending over backwards though. they took a HUGE gamble hiring a real espresso geek, (phil), giving him power to make important decisions as to the features and capability of the product, trying to make a machine that would appeal enough to real espresso geeks, that it would break into the real espresso geek market. and to that particular end, as far as i can tell, they have failed. miserably. not because they have not made a machine capable of world class espresso. they most certainly have. this thing has to be one the biggest breakthroughs the world of espresso has ever known... $6000 drinks at a $1000 price. yet? ...there is virtually ZERO penetration into the serious geek segment of the market, where they are probably more beholden to chrome and brass than they should be. this thread is the biggest internet resource for this machine in north america, and 95% of the content is remedial, "i just bought this bitchin' machine, some VST baskets, (waste of money), and a $100 calibrated tamper, (also a waste of money), why am i getting 14 second pours with my smart grinder on it's finest setting?"*

breville has a LOT at stake here. they have sold a lot of machines, to a lot of newbs, and only a handful to some not-so-newbs, and there have been some teething pains. if they stop bending over backwards to support it, all of those folks will evaporate, they'll NEVER penetrate the serious geek crowd, (i'll pinch my nose and buy a GS/3 or a used single group Cyncra), and this little experiment in affordable, world class espresso will die on the vine.

*nothing wrong with being a newb, BTW. nothing whatsoever. welcome to a lifelong hobby of great reward and challenge. i only bring up newbs because they seem to be by far, the largest segment of BDB purchasers. by. far. when i suspect, breville was hoping to build some street cred with folks like the H-B crowd, and, well, they haven't.

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